2008 XRCO Awards Presented Last Night

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Last night’s XRCO Awards saw the adult industry’s biggest stars, longtime veterans and power brokers gather at The Highlands nightclub, to be honored by the X-Rated Critics Organization.

According to event organizer April Storm, the list of guests numbered nearly 600.

The red carpet event hosted a parade of celebrities. The first to arrive were starlets Sunset Thomas and Penny Flame accompanied by adult icon Ron Jeremy. Always on the move, Jeremy said that he might go to the after party for the “Iron Man” premiere, being held next door at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Flame was nominated for Best Sex Scene with Chris Cannon.

“We always have great sex, so it was just a matter of catching it, you know, and thankfully, Paul Thomas was there with a whole crew,” Flame said.

The starlet also said she is excited to be taking the helm for the Vivid-Ed instructional line, which was developed by author/director Tristan Taormino; Flame will direct the whole educational series.

“The first one we did was ‘Penny Flame’s Guide to Hand Jobs,’” Flame said. “That was the first one I had a hand in — literally — I’m directing for Vivid and that’s all I ever wanted.”

Adam & Eve’s Peter Reynolds stood by the red carpet, keeping an eye on the company’s contract stars as they took their turns for photographers. Newest Adam & Eve contract star Kayden Kross is featured in “Kayden’s Krossfire,” which releases on Tuesday.

“I love Kayden,” Olsen said. “She’s just so gorgeous that I can’t take my hands of her.”

Star of SexZ Pictures “Upload,” Eva Angelina, was nominated for two awards, Best Actress and Super Slut.

“I think I’m more likely to get Best Actress than Super Slut because I wasn’t that big of a whore this year,” Angelina laughed.

Starlet Sasha Grey answered speculation that she had been approached by mainstream director Steven Soderbergh for the starring role in his upcoming movie “The Girlfriend Experience.”

“No, I wasn’t, but I hope I would be,” Grey said. “That would be awesome. But I am getting ready to go to Canada to do a horror film. I don’t get naked and I don’t die. I have a real role, so I’m pretty excited about that.

“It’s more of a psychological horror film about a killer filmmaker,” Grey hinted.

Brooke Haven and Veronica Rayne, who will appear together on “My Bare Lady 2” in the fall, were on the red carpet after hosting a fundraiser the night before, for children’s charity Project Cuddle, raising more than $18,000 in 36 hours.

Legendary photographer Suze Randall was accompanied by her daughter and soon-to-be-legendary photographer Holly, who wore a beautiful taupe-colored gown.

“I haven’t been to [an award show] in ages, but I’m up for some old fart’s award,” Suze said. “I thought I better show up.”

Holly Randall arrived with her new discovery, model Alissa King, who shot exclusively for the Randalls over the past few months. King, who is finishing up her exclusive deal with Randall, has decided to take the next step and do hardcore scenes. She can be booked through September Dawn’s A-List Talent.

With so many stars stopping for photo ops with the press, The Highlands filled gradually until the presentation began. The mood was light-hearted, with a chance for the industry-only crowd to mingle around three full-service bars and do some socializing.

XRCO’s official historian Jared Rutter accessed the festivities and said, “We’re in a wonderful venue this time and it’s great to see such a wonderful turnout.”

“I think I’m the only person alive that’s been to all 24 XRCO shows,” Rutter added. “This should be a very entertaining evening.”

Tables in front of the stage were set up for major production companies including Evil Angel, Hustler/X-Play, Jules Jordan Video, Teravision, Red Light District and show sponsors Wicked Pictures and Pink Visual.

Director Max Hardcore showed up without his signature cowboy hat — "I just wear that for the fans" — and was accompanied by new talent Jenna James.

"Things are good. Look at her. I'm not slowin' down," Hardcore said, referring to his upcoming obscenity trial in Tampa. "I'm going to make some fuckin' noise. Does it look like I'm on the ropes? I feel good."

Evil Angel owner and director John Stagliano held court as his table with wife Karen as a steady stream of admirers and well-wishers greeted him. Stagliano said he was very excited about his upcoming speaking engagement at the University of California – Santa Barbara where he will be the guest lecturer in a class on pornography.
Once the show got rolling, emceed by starlets Gina Lynn and Carmen Hart, the crowd was unusually subdued, waiting to hear the winners as they were announced.

X-Play’s Will Ryder and co-producer Scott David received the XRCO for Best Comedy Parody for smash hit “Not the Bradys XXX.”

Afterwards, Ryder said, "We're not trying to do anything but entertain people for a couple of hours. When I was a musician, that's what I did: We'd go on and entertain people, then get off the stage. That's what we like to do."

“Upload” director Eli Cross was carrying three of the heart-shaped awards; one for Best Epic for "Upload," Most Outrageous DVD Extras for "Upload," and galpal Kylie Ireland's award for MILF of the Year.

“She is not going to be happy about this,” said Cross. “She didn't want it. She hates being called that. She said 'If I don't go, I'm going to win it.' She didn't come, and she won it," he said with a laugh.

Evan Stone waxed rhapsodic about his male Performer of the Year award.

"The apex of this award is when you have it in your hand and you look at it and you read 'Male Performer of the Year' and you go into the bathroom, get in the stall and you sit down — you don't pull your pants down — and you look at it and you think to yourself 'I'm sitting in a bathroom stall with my award.'

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